Sponsored By Oxley Developments
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13 Oct 23. Taiwan-US: US extends semiconductor waiver, improving near-term global supply chain resilience. On 13 October, the United States granted Taiwan’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) an extension to supply US chip-making equipment to its Chinese facilities. TSMC, a major player in the semiconductor industry, had previously obtained a waiver in 2022 from the US. This development follows the 2022 decision by the US to impose export restrictions on advanced semiconductor technology to China, citing national security threats. A primary concern of Washington’s move to limit Beijing’s access to this technology was its potential use for China’s military modernisation. The extension to TSMC’s waiver ensures increased security regarding the continuity of its operations within mainland China, reducing the risk of immediate disruption to supply chains. With South Korea’s recent announcement of similar permissions for its chip manufacturers, these decisions will improve short-term global semiconductor supplies and resilience. However, the restrictions driven by the ongoing rivalry between the US and China will continue to sustain regulatory uncertainty for firms with a stake in both countries. (Source: Sibylline)
12 Oct 23. OnTime Networks, a global leader for rugged, time synchronized Ethernet solutions for the Aerospace and Defense Industry, announced today that their Ethernet Managed Switches have been selected by Rheinmetall Defence Australia (RDA) for the LAND 400 Phase 2 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle program. The OnTime Networks Advanced Mission Management System uses a Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) and will be configured as Video Processing Units for this application. Between 2023 and 2026, OnTime Networks will deliver the VPU and Ethernet Switches for the 8×8 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV) for the Australian Army.
OnTime Networks Cloudberry MIL CM-6200COMe ADVANCED MISSION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AMMS), a highly scalable product family, based on a modular open system architecture that utilizes multiple COMe Type 6 and MXM boards with a specialized carrier board assembly. The design ensures fast time-to-market for many customer applications and combines high performance CPU and GPGPU processing capabilities, HD full motion video capture and encode, complete sensor integration and data fusion in a SWaP optimized
Øyvind Holmeide, OnTime Networks’ CEO stated, “The selection by Rheinmetall is a significant milestone for OnTime Networks. Our platform is configured as a ruggedized Video Processing Unit designed to operate reliably in the harsh climatically and noisy electrical demanding environments of military applications. Furthermore, the Scope of Supply will provide an advanced GVA compliant architecture to Rheinmetall’s Boxer platform allowing enhanced situational awareness and network-centric operations for demanding applications in Command, Control, Communications Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR). He continued, “Achieving highly accurate connectivity onboard can dramatically enhance vehicle communication, networking, and sensor integration for mission capability and critical decision-making.”
About Australian Industrial Capability (“AIC”)
OnTime Networks is playing a vital role in the initiative of the Australian government to generate industrial capability in Australia by collaborations focusing on technology transfer allowing production of critical components for RDA. OnTime Networks is also committed to strengthening business relationships with Australian suppliers beyond the LAND 400 Phase 2 Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle program by integrating Australian suppliers into OnTime Network’s global supply chain. (Source: PR Newswire)
13 Oct 23. Dedrone Announces DedroneBeyond to Enable Scalable Drones as First Responder Operations.
Dedrone has announced the launch of DedroneBeyond, its solution to enable drone operations to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for state, local, territorial and tribal (SLTT) law enforcement and emergency services when deploying drone as first responders (DFR).
Powered by the same computer-vision-enabled, sensor-fusion AI that currently protects over 500 sites around the world, DedroneBeyond delivers complete airspace situational awareness. This solution is being developed and tested in partnership with others, including Axon Air powered by DroneSense, for safe drone operation, providing an infrastructure for the positive drone economy to emerge.
“Drones can provide more than just a birds-eye view of a situation; they can arrive at a scene faster than humans and then enable assessment of an emerging incident to provide critical information for law enforcement and first responders to make better decisions before sending in personnel. Today, this potential is hampered by the need to always have human eyes on a drone,” said Aaditya Devarakonda, CEO of Dedrone.
“DedroneBeyond unlocks that potential and makes it easier for law enforcement across the country to implement scalable DFR programs. DedroneBeyond is a natural extension for Dedrone, leveraging the company’s deep knowledge and technology foundation for aircraft detection and multi-sensor fusion, to further expand its global leadership in airspace security.”
“Eliminating the need for human visual observers is the key to unlocking the value of DFR and bringing its benefits to a larger number of communities,” said Aydin Ghajar, General Manager of Axon Air. “We’re incredibly excited to add DedroneBeyond to the Axon Air offering and the value it can bring in combination with all the hardware, software, and professional services we offer to agencies to operate a lifesaving drone program successfully.”
To fly a drone BVLOS in the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must issue a certificate of authorization (COA) to the end user. To acquire a COA, an agency must show that its technology can reliably detect other aircraft to prevent mid-air collisions. DedroneBeyond layers Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS–B) detection into Dedrone’s existing premier detection and sensor-fusion technologies, technologies that have placed the company in a global leadership position for airspace security. By using a drone to assess a situation, law enforcement agencies can respond faster and be more resource efficient.
“Embracing innovation is at the core of our mission to enhance public safety. Our partnership with Dedrone and Axon Air on the evaluation of the DedroneBeyond solution represents a crucial step towards strengthening our DFR program,” said Michael J. Bouchard, Sheriff, Oakland County, Mich. Sheriff’s Office. “This collaboration opens the door to exploring BVLOS operations, offering the potential to transform the way we respond to emergencies and keep our community safe.”
DedroneBeyond joins Dedrone’s suite of smart airspace security solutions, all of which leverage DedroneTracker.AI, the company’s command and control (C2) airspace security platform. With sophisticated AI models, the platform performs true sensor fusion to accurately monitor a drone’s flight path and behaviour. (Source: UAS VISION)
13 Oct 23. BT Launches UK’s First Drone SIM. UK telephone operator BT has announced the launch of the UK’s first Drone SIM to unlock the true potential of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) drone operation across the UK. Designed to function at altitude using the EE network, Drone SIM offers unlimited data plans and continuous connectivity in the sky. Drone SIM is built to endure vibration, temperature and humidity extremes, supporting all-season drone use. BT business customers will be the first to benefit from the Drone SIM which has the potential to transform industries, from urgent delivery of medical supplies to infrastructure monitoring and transportation of goods.
Using BT Group’s EE network, Drone SIM benefits from high priority and ultra responsive connectivity, enabling safety, control, telemetry and realising ultra-high definition (UHD) video streaming at altitude. This enables drone users to capture detailed, survey quality imagery and video for a wide range of purposes, from search and rescue to infrastructure inspection.
Drone SIM is pushing the limits of drone flight. With the largest geographic coverage in the UK, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) can now fly significant distances at their full capability whilst remaining in constant communication with their remote pilots and safety systems; a dramatic shift from a world where they were limited by line-of-sight radio transmission or local Wi-Fi. This innovation presents a key opportunity across industry, from urgent delivery of medical supplies to infrastructure monitoring and transportation of goods.
Etc., the Digital start-up and incubation arm of BT Group, has demonstrated its role in innovating the drone industry through historic relationships, such as its £5 million deal with Altitude Angel to help build the UK’s first drone superhighway. The launch of Drone SIM follows a series of successful trials and development by the Etc. team. Trials include critical infrastructure inspection with drone technology provider sees.ai, plus the ability to test BVLOS mission safety standards in an integrated airspace with turnkey Uncrewed Aerial System providers Skylift. Drone SIM has also powered a UK-first drone medical delivery trial with aerial logistics specialist Skyfarer.
Dave Pankhurst, Director of Drones, BT, said, “Following the successful trials of our Drone SIM over the past year, this announcement is a huge stepping stone in bringing drone connectivity to businesses across the UK, unlocking potential for more efficient processes, business transformation and, with the ability to power search and rescue missions and medical deliveries, helping to save lives.”
Eduardo Aldaz-Carroll, Chief Technology Officer, sees.ai, states “It’s vitally important to inspect our critical national energy infrastructure. Drones offer significant benefits by increasing the speed, efficiency and consistency of data capture so we can predict the future state of the asset with reduced risk and environmental impact. It’s great to be working with BT Group to develop the technologies required to roll out BVLOS drone inspection and monitoring at scale.” Nick Ruggles, Chief Technology Officer, Skylift states,
“BT’s Telecoms Grade C2 links have halved our deployment setup times. With recurring costs at just 14% of other systems and virtually zero infrastructure expenses, this is a game changer for us”. Georgia Hanrahan, Chief Operations Officer at Skyfarer commented,
“With the Drone SIM powering BVLOS flight, we can take a 20 minute flight between two hospitals and reduce this to a more direct 8 minute flight. Perfect for time-sensitive deliveries. We estimate a wider scale roll out nationwide could reduce our delivery time by 60% compared to road transport”.
Spectrum for Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Drone SIM is aligned and compliant with the world-leading regulatory approach to spectrum authorisation by UK communications regulator, Ofcom.
Project Skyway
BT, Sees.ai and Skyfarer are part of Innovate UK’s Future Flight Phase 3 programme which includes Project Skyway – the development of the world’s largest and longest drone superhighway. (Source: UAS VISION)
12 Oct 23. Custom Power at AUSA. Battery packs are used in various military applications ranging from tactical drone surveillance to communication devices. As with any mission-critical equipment, the battery solutions used to power these devices must be reliable, durable and safe.
The increasing demands of technological advancements in military devices require a battery pack manufacturer that can meet expectations and provide innovative solutions. Choosing the right battery pack manufacturer is crucial to ensure the success of your critical military devices.
Factors When Choosing A Military Manufacturing Partner
An expert manufacturing partner plays a key role in developing military battery packs with the high-performance capabilities needed for equipment in the defense field. Here are a few factors you need to consider when choosing a battery pack manufacturer for military devices:
Quality Certifications
The weight of the missions conducted by the military calls for every product manufactured to meet industry quality standards. Quality certifications offer more than a partner’s promise to deliver a certain level of quality — they enable you to ensure the manufacturer’s consistency in developing high-quality products. The military manufacturing partner you choose should have quality certifications,such as the AS9100, which is mandatory for any developer in the defense industry.
Military Device Product Experience
Continuing advancements in military equipment call for innovative solutions that aid a mission’s success. It is best to choose a manufacturing partner with years of experience specializing in military device products. They have the knowledge and expertise to engineer reliable military battery packs that solve your unique issues. Whether you want compact or long-lasting lithium battery solutions, an experienced developer can produce a custom battery suiting your needs.
Reliability And Safety
It is essential to choose a partner that manufactures military device battery solutions that consistently perform as intended in various conditions. The devices must be reliable for use in critical military applications. Moreover, the developer must adhere to the safety requirements for manufacturing military battery packs. Learn about the partner’s measures to ensure product safety and whether they follow the regulatory requirements or go above and beyond what is mandatory.
Expectations And Collaboration
Working with military manufacturing partners requires a clear outline of expectations and good collaboration throughout the process to optimize demands and ensure satisfaction. Here are some aspects of having an excellent partnership:
- Trust: Trust is crucial for an effective partnership and facilitates developing and producing military device battery solutions that meet your needs. Building trust involves consistently meeting specific expectations and targets.
- Communication: A key component to a successful collaboration is good communication during all stages. A manufacturer can better align their work with your goals with adequate and clear communication.
- Industry knowledge: A manufacturer with industry knowledge enhances your collaboration with information sharing, coordinated decision-making and innovative solutions.
Military Device Engineering Requirements
Military battery packs power numerous devices crucial to the success of vital missions. Whether used as a primary power source or for backup, these batteries are an essential design feature for applications such as military armored vehicles, combat communication radios and drones. Military battery solutions are engineered to offer high performance in the harsh environments they are used in.
Due to their significance, military battery packs must adhere to strict engineering requirements to ensure safety, reliability and durability. Engineers must put the products they develop through various tests, such as thermal testing, to validate their performance in different conditions.
Benefits Of Working With Custom Power For Military Power Solutions
Custom Power specializes in designing and manufacturing high-performing and reliable military device battery solutions. We handle every step of manufacturing a product that meets your expectations. Here are a few benefits of choosing Custom Power as your military manufacturing partner:
- Expertise: Our multi discipline expertise enables us to tackle various aspects of developing military batteries and satisfy the most critical and demanding requirements.
- Certification: We are certified to AS9100D and ISO 9001:2015, showing our dedication to maintaining quality and consistently providing products that meet customers’ specifications.
- Testing: All our custom batteries are tested throughout different stages to ensure quality and dependability. During testing, we mimic the temperatures the devices are used in, which is especially crucial for military applications.
10 Oct 23. Pontimax Technologies’ Inferencing Agent Delivers Inferencing & Reasoning Ability to UAVs Operating Over the Battle Space.
Pontimax Technologies LLC announced its Solution For Equipping UAVs With Mission Focused, Dynamic Inferencing Capabilities For Real-Time Rules Of Engagement Thresholds Execution!
“Our outlook is that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will be the “Edge” communications and data access hubs of current and future “Battlespaces.” From overhead positions, UAVs have direct access to deployed air and ground sensors, which, if subjected to predicate-based inferencing and reasoning, can deliver superior “Battlespace Awareness” and achieve real “Decision Advantage,” Ray Keating, Managing Member of Pontimax Technologies, notes. “Pontimax’s Dynamic Inferencing Agent, with its innovative inferencing and reasoning capabilities, when positioned in Battlespace UAVs, is capable of delivering multi-command echelon situation awareness that can be combined with Rules of Engagement (ROE) based autonomous weapons deployment. Moreover, predicate-based Inferencing & Reasoning provides the only currently available capability to directly embody ROE with real-time enforcement.” “If the essential inferencing functions and capabilities, coverage information and network “reach” are all accessible and considered in developing a mission “Inferencing Plan,” Pontimax’s Inferencing Agent has the ability to perform real-time “Recognize-Classify-Identify-Communicate (RCIC)” sequences for enabling “intelligent” weapons deployment decision making. with full ROE compliance.”
Equipping UAV’s with Predicate Inferencing Capabilities is Challenging!
“It’s a significant challenge to develop mission “Inferencing Plans” that determine a mission’s situation awareness inferencing requirements plus, potentially, the ROE predicates, on a mission-specific basis. It’s very similar to mission planning attack weapons “load-outs” or programming cruise missiles but more complex. To realize a similar capability for generating mission “Inferencing Plans,” consisting of one or more “Inferencing Profiles,” it was realized that there was an absolute need for a Capability & Coverage (C&C) Knowledge Base. The C&C Knowledge Base will be used by mission planners to develop mission “Inferencing+Reasoning” Plan profiles for equipping UAV’s and Tactical Assault Kits (TAK’s) with Mission Inferencing Plans.”
Pontimax Announces its Inferencing “Capabilities & Coverage (C&C)” Knowledge Base Technology
Pontimax’s innovative Inferencing “Capability & Coverage Knowledge Base” acts as the essential information hub for providing mission planners and tactical operators with the information required for which tactical locations, sensing capabilities and Inferencing Platforms, such as Inferencing Agents installed on UAV’s, are or must be available for fulfilling the mission Inferencing Plan Profiles.
Making It All Work-Pontimax Announces Its Inferencing Planning & Deployment Harness Framework
The Capability & Coverage Knowledge Base is the key to the Inferencing Agent’s ability to apply its inferencing & reasoning capabilities to mission-relevant sensor data. However, for equipping multiple platforms with the mission Inferencing Profiles, as well as ensuring that the technical computing capabilities, such as Inferencing Profile required Machine Learning inferencing modules, are in place, a Configuration Data & Software Deployment Framework is needed. To address this essential mission planning & mission generation need, Pontimax has developed a “GitOps” software repository-based Inferencing platform provisioning “harness.” The Inferencing Deployment Harness uses the mission inferencing requirements contained in the Capabilities & Coverage Knowledge Base to marshal the necessary mission Inferencing Profiles Inferencing Predicates and download their constituent components to the C&C determined mission Inferencing Platforms.
About Pontimax Technologies LLC
Founded in 1999, Pontimax Technologies has focused on AI technology development, building on a history of its predecessor firm’s successes in Rule-Based Expert systems and Meta-Data specification driven software. Starting in 2006, it originated its innovative Dynamic Meta Inferencing (DMI) technology and successfully applied DMI in multiple applications, including ADLGuardian, a caregiver oversight system to support independent living for autistic spectrum disorder individuals and yrConnected™, Pontimax’s Personal Wellness & Safety Monitoring service.
(Source: PR Newswire)
10 Oct 23. Curtiss-Wright’s Defense Solutions Division today announced a collaborative development agreement with Cisco to bring secure enterprise-class network switching solutions – based on the Cisco Catalyst ESS9300 Embedded Series switches with Internetworking Operating System (IOS) XE – to rugged, deployed aerospace and defense OpenVPX systems environments for the first time. Delivering an array of network switching capabilities not previously available on OpenVPX hardware, the collaboration promises to provide ground and airborne network designers with features they need and expect from an enterprise-class network switch for communicating both in and outside of the system chassis.
The products resulting from this agreement will significantly help increase network security, flexibility, and control at the tactical edge.
- Cisco IOS XE enables network system designers to architect resilient networks and provides high-level, advanced capabilities that assist in mitigating network issues that can otherwise cause disconnected, intermittent, and limited (DIL) conditions at the tactical edge, such as switch looping.
- The new Sensor Open System Architecture™ (SOSA) aligned plug-in-card (PIC) network switch solutions will provide network system designers with access to advanced network switch features and capabilities, including port security and access control through 802.1x, support for SSH and SNMP v3, FIPS 140 and Common Criteria certification.
- The rugged OpenVPX network switch products will be STIG-Ready with DISA authored Security Technical Implementation Guides. These guides provide the technical security policies, requirements and implementation details for applying security concepts to Cisco IOS XE to provide customers with a fast path to a Risk Management Framework (RMF) process and drastically reduce the effort required to attain Authority to Operate (ATO).
The 3U OpenVPX network switch solutions based on the Cisco Catalyst ESS9300 Embedded Series with Cisco IOS XE. Designed to meet MIL-SDT-810H environmental ruggedization requirements, the new network switch solutions will be the first OpenVPX form factor members of Curtiss-Wright’s popular PacStar® family of tactical communications solutions. In addition to bringing widely used enterprise-class, hardware-based switching technology to VPX and SOSA™ aligned embedded ecosystems, the plan is to have this product meet security certifications required to be FIPS and Common Criteria complaint, enabling them to be securely deployed on Government networks and migrate NSA-approved Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) data encryption solutions to new form factors.
“Curtiss-Wright is excited to partner with Cisco to bring their Catalyst line of network switches to the rugged deployed VPX system environment with SOSA Technical Standard alignment,” said Brian Perry, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions Division. “Cisco’s switching technology and IOS XE operating system provide enterprise-class features for DoD and defense industry to build secure networks both inside and outside of a VPX chassis. This joint development will deliver a key component for our turn-key integrated tactical communications solutions to the VPX form factor, including our secure CSfC encrypted product offerings, for the first time.”
“Cisco and Curtiss-Wright have been partners in delivering custom solutions for the military for several years. Our collaboration brings together Cisco’s expertise in networking with Curtiss-Wright’s deep knowledge of defense technology,” said Samuel Pasquier, Vice President, Cisco Industrial IoT. “By combining our strengths, we deliver solutions that improve security and meet compliance requirements of critical defense systems. Today we are expanding our relationship to address military’s new converged CMOSS initiative for force modernization that simplifies their communications systems.”
Curtiss-Wright plans to offer a new OpenVPX solution based on Cisco Catalyst ESS9300 Embedded Series switch with upcoming product releases. The new network switch PICs will be listed on the Department of Defense Information Network (DoDIN) Approved Products List (APL) to simplify the procurement process for DoD organizations seeking products that have met cybersecurity and interoperation certification requirements.
About Curtiss-Wright’s Family of Leading Battlefield Solutions
Curtiss-Wright’s industry-leading PacStar family of advanced communications solutions addresses a wide range of military, intelligence, and commercial applications. Curtiss-Wright created and manufactures COTS-based rugged, small form factor expeditionary and mobile communications systems. Separately, it developed integrated, network communications management software, IQ-Core® Software, for the military, federal, state/local government, and emergency responder markets. The company’s patented IQ-Core Software, hardware technology, and integrated solutions provide secure, command, control, and communications systems, particularly in remote or infrastructure-starved areas. In addition, PacStar communications systems are ideally suited for commercial/industrial organizations with mission-critical field communications requirements.
09 Oct 23. General Micro Systems (GMS) today announced that the X9 Spider Mission Computer has been chosen by Research Innovations (RII) to create the company’s latest electronic warfare/signals intelligence (EW / SIGINT) product. Because of the X9’s tiny, rugged form-factor; flexible add-in I/O; high-density shared DDR4 memory, and closely coupled CPU/GPU architecture, RII is actively investing in the development of a battlefield-deployable product. Pairing GMS’s small form factor X9 hardware with RII’s unique ability to empower edge artificial intelligence (AI) and wideband RF processing will enable new cyber applications on previously unavailable platforms.
RII has ordered the X9 Spider Mission Computer fully equipped with I/O and an NVIDIA® A4500 GPU. GMS has also customized the X9 Spider’s development platform—the “mezzanine test board” (MTB)—to meet RII’s unique specifications for integrating Epiq Solution’s software-defined radio (SDR). RII’s initial plans for the X9 Spider Mission Computer are for on-the-battlefield mobile, portable and vehicle-mounted use in classified EW / SIGINT applications. It aims to succeed Photon, the wideband accelerated RF processing platform, creating a next-generation solution and doing so in a significantly reduced form factor. Initial deployment of the RF-programmable cyber product is hundreds per year.
Why It Matters
“It’s a game-changer,” said Bill Urrego, inventor of Photon while at the MITRE Corporation, and now an Engineering Fellow at RII. Urrego served as a senior principal engineer designing RF systems for the Army’s Program Manager Electronic Warfare & Cyber (PM-EW&C)—systems like TLS-BCT, which use Photon and NVIDIA GPU’s for AI / ML EW / SIGINT capabilities. “We are forging a generational breakthrough in distributed edge sensors with Spectrum access to 200 MHz of bandwidth using our embedded heterogeneous compute stack.”
The smaller form factor represents a reduction in 10x SWaP. The X9 Spider Mission Computer is about 2 x 4.75 x 6 inches, and literally fits in the palm of the hand. As well, it will run the same core RII software as on the rackmount servers but requires 60 cubic inches vs approximately 8,000 cubic rackmount inches.
Rugged and waterproof, X9 Spider takes up less than 1 percent of the space (!), weighs under 3 pounds, can run on a standard soldier battery, and is stout enough to operate from -40°C to +85°C in the rain. For perspective, 133 X9’s would fit in the same rackmount space, offering that much additional EW RF processing. X9 Spider Mission Computer now blows open the possibilities for EW / SIGINT RF cyber processing in previously unavailable ways.
The need for tactical, battlefield SDR products is acute. From receiving and identifying signals, to spoofing and jamming them, small passive and active SIGINT and EW products can be added to ground vehicles, UAS, airborne fighter jets, and even dismounted soldiers and Marines.
“The nature of warfare is changing,” said Ben Sharfi, CEO and Chief Architect at GMS. “At-the-edge computing clearly is better than moving data back CONUS for processing. But the sweet spot is adding RF and AI capabilities to anything and everything that can benefit from local processing and instantaneous results.” The entire X9 Spider family of rugged small form factor computers, AI, networking, storage and display products was created to make local on-the-battlefield processing and connectivity a reality.
X9 Spider Mission Computer Family
“Next-generation platforms like aircraft, vehicles, UAS and sensor systems require next-generation capabilities to maximize computing resources in lean, flexible and cost-effective ways,” Sharfi said. “By breaking the outdated and needlessly expensive, centralized ATR-style board-and-chassis paradigm into Thunderbolt™ technology-connected distributed compute modules, the X9 Spider family gives designers ruggedized, as-needed capabilities to solve any compute problem in any environment—from the smallest enclosure to the largest C5ISR system.” Rugged X9 Spider modules are small and modular, plug-and-play, and emphasize flexibility over ATR chassis’ physical and electrical constraints. An X9 module literally fits in the palm of your hand like a cell phone. Built for limitless expandability, the X9 Spider family is based on brand-new, patent-pending mechanical features that allow devices to stack and interconnect electrically, physically and thermally but literally at light speed with minimal signal bottlenecks. X9 Spider connects directly to next-gen sensors without intermediate electronics—simplifying their connection to the electronic system—making the sensors themselves equally scalable and modular. This kind of upgradeability gives the DoD, primes and system developers limitless possibilities with very low upgrade costs.
No one in the rugged industry has anything like X9 Spider because much of the technology was invented and patented by GMS. The revolutionary family includes:
- Interconnectivity via the COTS open standard Thunderbolt 4 technology, developed by Intel® and Apple.® As well, 100Gb Ethernet over fiber connects X9 Spider modules to each other and to other high-speed systems
- Mission Computer and AI Processor with a range of storage and network capabilities powered either by Intel’s®latest 11th-generation Xeon W (Tiger Lake-H) 8-core CPU, or by NVIDIA’s Jetson AGX Orin GPGPU with ARMcore engine, plus GPGPU CUDA and Tensor cores
- Six (6) companion X9 modules, including “Workstation” with removable storage and up to 14 sites for add-in I/O like MIL-STD-1553; Network “Switch” with four 100Gb and eight 10Gb Ethernet ports; “Storage” with removable canister and up to eight high-density M.2 or U.2 SSD storage devices; “GPGPU” with NVIDIA RTX-5000 or A4500 GPGPU and custom I/O module such as video frame grabber for autonomous driver sensors, and utility X9 Spider modules for “Power” and “Cooler”
- Improved reliability and robustness through the patent-pending QuadroLock™ active wedge lock technology, enabling X9 Spider modules to interlock to withstand severe noise, vibration and harshness while simultaneously transferring heat between modules for maximum cooling
- Cutting-edge, long-range and cost-efficient interconnects through the patent-pending LightBolt™ connector, supporting Thunderbolt 4 fiber or copper and 100W power in one cable
“X9 Spider’s interoperability not only lowers acquisition costs, but it enables modernization and upgrade programs to move past restrictive single-box architectures like VME and OpenVPX, and instead uses plug-and-play standards like Thunderbolt 4, 100Gigabit Ethernet and USB4 that are deployable anywhere on the platform,” Sharfi said. “This decentralizes computing, power distribution and heat dissipation while improving fault tolerance through redundancy or merely by physically separating critical functions. These capabilities required new mechanical and electrical innovations to achieve a truly MOSA-open, modular, distributed and scalable system that designers will love.”
The GMS X9 architecture includes 22 patents either filed for or granted.
09 Oct 23. Auterion, the company building the software-defined future for mobile robotics and powering the world’s leading drone manufacturers, has released an update to its popular all-in-one autonomy solution for drones, Skynode X. Auterion’s technology for autonomous computing empowers a diverse range of robots to perform high-risk and mundane tasks, deliver goods, and aid in life-saving missions.
Skynode X not only preserves all the foundational capabilities of the original product, it also grants access to the most advanced technology available, guaranteeing superior performance, unwavering reliability, and impeccable precision. Highlights include:
- A powerful yet lightweight design that is 30 percent thinner and 15 percent lighter than its predecessor. All core components are combined into one single hardware, allowing easy integration into small or space-constrained vehicles without sacrificing performance capabilities.
- Incorporates the latest Flight Management Unit (FMU), FMUv6x, which brings upgraded performance, stability and reliability. With 2x the compute power and 2x RAM, it provides more headroom for the operation of larger vehicles requiring features like large CAN networks.
- Enhanced computer vision support. The new vision software development kit can be used to develop custom applications for Skynode X or install third-party applications that add new functionality like GPS-denied navigation, vision-guided landing on moving landing pads and obstacle detection.
“Skynode and AuterionOS drive the adoption of software-defined robotic fleets by offering the highest levels of integration.” said Lorenz Meier, CEO and Founder of Auterion. “The Skynode X updates ensure we are meeting the autonomy, reliability and flexibility that our customers need, so large retailers can utilize and scale drone delivery programs and governments can perform their missions more efficiently and safely.”
Since its first release in 2020, Skynode has enabled dozens of manufacturers to successfully develop a range of robotics systems powered by the Auterion operating system. These drones carry out a variety of tasks, including repetitive, precise or even dangerous tasks in any commercial or government setting. Current uses include search and rescue missions, cargo delivery, mapping dangerous terrain and surveillance missions.
Skynode X can be used on any size vehicle – multicopters, vertical take-off and landing aircraft, ground rovers and boats. Other features:
- Provides an all-in-one solution at relatively low cost to integrate the Auterion software platform into different types of robots – reducing the time and costs of hardware and software integration.
- Combines all core components into single hardware, making it easier to integrate than having to assemble many individual components.
- Supports large organizations to build on top of open-source foundations.
- Enables vehicle manufacturers to gain value in the open-source hardware/software ecosystem.
About Auterion
Auterion is a cutting-edge operating system for autonomous computing that empowers a diverse range of autonomous robots to perform high-risk to mundane tasks, deliver goods, and aid in life-saving missions. Our industry-leading software drives the adoption of robotic fleets for a variety of commercial and public sector industries. Join the Auterion movement and experience the power of next-generation computing.
06 Oct 23. USAF partners with GM Defense to successfully power aircraft with Electric Ground Power Unit. The Air Force Research Laboratory collaborated with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Air Force Materiel Command headquarters and General Motors Defense to successfully power a KC-135 tanker aircraft with GM Defense’s Electric Ground Power Unit at Edwards Air Force Base, California, Aug. 14-17, 2023.
The system employs commercial battery electric technology from GM and was transported on an electric cart integrated with GM’s Powered Solutions battery and electric drive system. The Electric Ground Power Unit and cart serve both military and commercial aircraft purposes.
“We are working to leverage the automotive industry in the electrification of our flightline power systems now, but I’d also like to lean forward and leverage domestic automotive industry technology for flightline autonomy as well,” said Tahrea Grant, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center chief engineer.
In the future, Grant added, he hopes to see the same technology solutions applied daily in the domestic automotive industry used on DAF flightlines. Flightline aviation ground support equipment and vehicles are critical to Department of the Air Force military aircraft operations, both stateside and in deployment settings.
“With access to the advanced technologies of our commercial parent, General Motors, GM Defense is transitioning our unique defense and government customers to a more electric future,” said Rick Kewley, GM Defense Product Development and Advanced Engineering vice president. “Our commercial-based Electric Ground Power Unit helps eliminate the emissions of greenhouse gases during operation, while also providing near-silent operations. We’re pleased to be providing a solution that enhances their capabilities.”
To embrace and enable evolving electric flightline equipment and vehicle capabilities, the DAF requires safe, affordable domestic battery sources. Most equipment and vehicles currently in DAF service rely upon continuously running internal combustion, or IC, engines that are fossil fuel-dependent. To increase future energy agility, AFRL has teamed with its collaborators to build and test electric and hybrid flightline equipment and vehicles demonstrating many benefits relative to IC engine-based platforms.
David Juhassz, GM Program Engineering manager, led the development effort for GM Defense and supported this program for the last three years, adapting GM’s advanced commercial technology to meet the needs of flightline aviation.
“The flightline maintainers at Edwards really appreciated the zero noise and zero emissions,” said Juhassz. “We’re thrilled that the demonstration with the Air Force was a success.”
Chief Master Sgt. Darl Parvin Jr., AFMC aviation support equipment lead, told the combined testing team at Edwards that increased flightline electrification is in the DAF’s future.
“We need to embrace it, prepare for it and be proactive to figure out where we can accomplish our mission better,” Parvin said. “To win our future conflicts, our combat and mission capabilities must be better than our past.”
Leveraging technology and automotive industry manufacturing muscle for DAF flightline applications is a strategic vision for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Support Equipment and Vehicles program office and AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate.
“Our shared vision and organizational commitment toward flightline modernization is a benchmark and best practice for the USAF,” said Grant.
Tom Layne, AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate project lead, noted energy storage, agility and resilience, as well as robust, trusted domestic defense manufacturing and industrial bases are critical to the DAF.
“This project with GM Defense, the program office, the lead major command and the 412th Test Wing allowed us to all work together and successfully touch on all of these factors,” Layne said.
However, Layne added, to enable increased flightline electrification, charging infrastructure and standard charging interfaces are also critical.
“We need to get out in front of the flightline charging infrastructure part to embrace energy agility, resiliency, and maximize equipment and vehicle interoperability when stateside and deployed,” Layne said.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 12,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com. (Source: Paulo Dominonni via LinkedIn )
10 Oct 23. GM Defense LLC, a subsidiary of General Motors (GM), and Anduril Industries, Inc. announced a teaming agreement, establishing a framework to collaborate on defense program capture activities. The team is focused on delivering autonomy solutions, battery electrification and other new propulsion technologies, as well as those integrating the full range of Anduril technologies onto GM Defense mobility solutions.
The announcement aligns with the Association of the U.S. Army tradeshow in Washington, D.C. where both companies are showcasing variations of the proven and fielded Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV). In booth 661, hall A, GM Defense will have a four-seat Multi-Mission and Logistics ISV equipped with Anduril loitering munitions. In booth 4315, Anduril is hosting GM Defense’s nine-Soldier ISV, currently fielded to the U.S. Army’s 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, in addition to Lattice, Anduril’s sensor, network, and system-agnostic open software platform, for land systems command and control.
“GM Defense has a strong strategic alignment with Anduril as we are both focused on bringing disruptive new technologies into the defense and government marketplace to deliver innovative solutions for our customers,” said Steve duMont, GM Defense president. “We feel this is a powerful team, and together we can make a strong offering for key U.S. defense programs while assessing other global opportunities.”
With experience in ground vehicle autonomy, sensing, vehicle safety systems and connected vehicle fleet analytics, GM Defense develops solutions based on the advanced technologies of its parent company, General Motors, that help advance warfighter capabilities with some of the most advanced technologies available on the commercial market.
Anduril is a leading provider of advanced defense technologies, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and integrated defense solutions. “We are thrilled to be working with GM Defense to produce new capabilities for land systems. Advanced software for mission-level autonomy can transform ground systems, and GM Defense will be a critical teammate to deliver next-generation land systems for warfighters around the world,” said Anduril Industries CEO, Brian Schimpf.
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Oxley Group Ltd
Oxley offer a range of Military Marine NVG friendly LED lighting that includes navigation lights and controls, flight deck landing lights and interior compartment lighting. Our lighting products are used by Navies around the world including our own Royal Navy on UK Aircraft Carriers, Canadian Frigates, Swedish Submarines, Australian Surface vessels and Submarines, on board French Naval Carriers and in Naval Gun Turrets.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-r/
The technology is extremely energy efficient and built robustly, with proven long life. The lighting is NVG friendly, dimmable and programmable to allow for operations with aircraft pilots using military night vision goggles. They offer superior design giving high reliability for the most demanding environments with high sealing and the ability to meet the most stringent EMC standards.
https://oxleydevelopments.cmail20.com/t/t-l-cdhkulk-yujhutkljd-y/
Oxley are proud to say that we are working in partnership with SeaKing to enable a control panel to be offered with our LED Navigation Lighting. All of Oxley navigation lights have been specifically developed for vessels over 50 metres.
Contact Marcus Goad on 07850 917 263 for more information or to arrange samples.
Oxley specialises in the design and manufacture of advanced electronic and electro-optic components and systems for air, land and sea applications within the military sector. Established in 1942, Oxley has manufacturing facilities in the UK and USA and enjoys representation worldwide. The company’s products include night vision and LED lighting, data capture systems and electronic components. Oxley has pioneered the development of night vision compatible lighting. It offers a total package incorporating optical filters, equipment modification, cockpit and external lighting along with fleet wide upgrade services including engineering, installation, support, maintenance and training. The company’s long experience of manufacturing night vision lighting and LED indicators, coupled with advances in LED technology, has enabled it to develop LED solutions to replace incandescent and fluorescent lighting in existing applications as well as becoming the lighting option of choice in new applications such as portable military hospitals, UAV control stations and communication shelters.
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